Congress’ extended hand defending Michel to protect family

07 Dec 201805:59am IST

07 Dec 201805:59am IST

PTI, NEW DELHI: The extradition of Christian Michel has rattled the Congress, the BJP claimed on Thursday, alleging that the opposition party's "extended hand" is defending the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper deal to protect "the family" from the fallout of the investigation.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said all three lawyers, including Youth Congress functionary Aijo K Joseph, who appeared for Michel in a court had links with the Congress.

He also dismissed the party's decision to Joseph as a charade and drama.

Joseph appeared as Michel's lawyer on Wednesday, prompting the BJP to attack the opposition party which sacked him within hours.

Patra said the Congress may have expelled him but he remains a lawyer for the accused as "10 Janpath", the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, wants its own people to be in touch with Michel.

Besides Joseph, one of the lawyers defending Michel is a member of the Congress' youth wing while the father of another is a party member, Patra claimed at a press conference.

"Isn't this too much of an coincidence? Isn't the extended hand of the Congress was working to protect the family?" he asked, adding that it is a clever move by the party to ensure that Michel is protected.